I was not an IHG elite when the $1300 CSX fares came out. (Boy I miss qualifying for 75K so easily). My first run there I stayed at the Ramada East (or west I forget) and it was brand new and beautiful and included breakfast. A single king Room was like a suite, they were absolutely stunning with floor to ceiling windows. And at $60 a night it was a steal. The problem was nobody at the entire property spoke English (not an exaggeration), and I’m not complaining about that. Obviously I know I’m in China, but it was an interesting cultural experience. The Ramada was also far from downtown, and when you would go outside I would imagine it was probably the first time many Changsha residents ever got to see Americans. I remember one driver on my second run who barely spoke English who was so excited to talk to an American all the way to the hotel. Again a very nice cultural experience.

The next run I did, I said I was going to stay downtown where there were English speakers. On the way over there was another FTer who did hospital administration work and was the only other Gwailo in J. He was a bald guy, but forgot his name. (If you’re out there gimme a shout!) I don’t know about the upgraded suites, but the regular rooms at the Crowne plaza were absolutely disgusting. They smelled, the carpets were terribly old and stained. I had to move rooms, but the second one wasn’t much better. So I traded in being able to get around in English for a much worse place to stay? I imagine the Sheraton was the best place to stay where I believe my fellow mileage runner was staying.

Anyway, I miss those days. It’s crazy how much that LAX-CSX flight in J has increased in cost too to when they first launched it. I also don’t like leaving at the new time at night out of LAX. I enjoyed the day flight to CSX. But I would not hesitate to take another HU flight. HU blew my standards out of the water for a mainland carrier. I’d fly HU in J over BA first any day of the week.